Desktop or Smartphone for IRS Authenticator App

[RWG1950]

For security purposes, does it matter whether one would access the app to get the IRS code from a desktop
or from a smartphone? I use the Microsoft EDGE browser.
Thanks for comments.

[Lion]

I've heard colleagues that use either or even both.

[TaxGuyBill]

I'm not a security expert, but it seems more secure to me if you can only get the code from a separate device.

[Rapid Robert]

Is this about the IRS2go mobile app? I've never used it; does it have any value for tax pros, or is it aimed only at taxpayers?

I ask because as both a taxpayer and a tax pro, I only use my ID.me login to get into IRS secure area, which does not require an authenticator app - I just get a 6-digit TOTP code as a text on my phone.

The comment about using MS Edge browser has me confused, because this seems to indicate a Windows desktop computer, not a smartphone. IRS2go is only for smartphones AFAIK.

[Rapid Robert]

Anyone, please? Apparently the other three respondents in this thread all know exactly what is being talked about, but when I search for "IRS Authenticator App", nothing relevant comes up.

[Lion]

I don't thing the OP was asking about the IRS2go mobile app. I do think it's aimed at taxpayers.

Most of us are dealing with authenticator apps for our tax prep software for the first time this year. We've discovered that we can use an authenticator app for our tax prep software on our smartphone or on our desktop, which is handier for some. That's why there's been some discussions about which browser people use on their PCs.

Again, I think you're the only one who's talking about IRS2go.

If you have an authenticator app for your tax prep software that works for you, then you're good to go. If you have a problem using an authenticator app with your tax prep software, then please ask specific questions. What authenticator app do you have or do you want to ask about, for instance?

[Rapid Robert]

Just FYI, I only brought up the IRS2go app because I was trying to guess what was meant by "IRS Authernticator app". As the OP stated, "the app to get the IRS code". All I'm trying to understand is what app, and what code is being referred to?

If this is about ID.me, then why not just say so? ID.me is not the IRS, it is a non-government entity.

Also, what app is there for tax purposes that can run equally well on a mobile phone or a desktop Windows computer, which is what the OP was asking (and what Lion referred to)? The OP didn't mention anything about our professional tax software, only the IRS was mentioned..

I should state that I do know in general what an "app" is, and the number of apps that run on Windows is only a tiny portion of the apps you find available for mobile devices (phones, ipads, etc). My software (UltraTax) has been using MFA for several years already. For a while I was able to use a physical card that generated a TOTP code, but now I just get the code via a text on my phone. Some of the more customer-friendly sites (banks, etc) also provide an option to make a voice phone call with the code.

[Anarchrist]

The OP isn't asking about id.me or the irs2go app, he's asking about MFA now required to access the tax software.

[Rapid Robert]

The OP isn't asking about id.me or the irs2go app, he's asking about MFA now required to access the tax software.

Perhaps, but it certainly isn't clear from the vaguely worded question. I'm surprised that any professional tax software hasn't already implemented MFA several years ago, when Security Summit indicated it was a requirement.